There are many ways to straighten your teeth. Read below to find out the various types of braces available today but you need to talk to an orthodontic professional to find out which ones are the right fit for you.
The type of braces you can get depends on:
The severity of your condition
The recommendation of your orthodontist
How much you are willing to pay
How long you will be in braces
Your own personal preference
Ceramic Braces:
Ceramic braces are made of very strong materials and are very similar to metal braces. The brackets are tooth colored and are nearly as strong as metal and can be used to treat nearly all of the same cases.
Ceramic braces are a solution for adults who are looking for orthodontic solutions that blend in with the teeth and aren’t as evident as metal braces. Patients also report less irritation of the gums when compared to metal braces.
The ligatures (tiny rubber bands) that hold the arch wire on to the ceramic brackets are often white or clear. One downside to having ceramic braces is that the ligatures stain over time and can become more noticeable.
Treatment is usually more expensive than metal braces and it can take a bit longer.
Invisalign
Is another treatment option for people who seek unobtrusive orthodontic treatment. Instead of brackets bonded to the tooth, dental treatment is mapped out through a series of plastic dental trays designed to move the teeth in incremental movements over weeks. The clear, plastic trays are virtually invisible and are difficult to detect. With Invisalign there is no irritation to the gums and they can be removed for aesthetic reasons over small periods of time.
Invisalign is a solution for patients who are not in need of severe orthodontic treatment and is not a solution for everyone. In some cases, patients may require additional treatment if they have more dental malocclusions. Find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign.
Metal Braces:
Metal brackets are made of metal brackets along with an elastic rubber band called a ligature to hold the wire onto the bracket. These types of braces are very strong and can withstand most types of treatment. They also tend to be the most inexpensive and can treat the most severe cases. Metal braces also tend to have the least amount of treatment time when compared with other orthodontic solutions.
Some of the drawback to having metal braces is that they cause irritation to the cheeks and gum but patients often adjust to the feelings after a few weeks. Metal braces are a solution to nearly all patients who need braces.
Self-ligating Braces:
Self-ligating braces are metal braces without the elastic ligature. Using a “trap door” technology, the brackets allow the wire to slide back and forth resulting in fewer adjustments and less appointments.
Lingual Braces:
With Lingual Braces, the brackets are placed behind the teeth and are virtually invisible to others and are most commonly made of metal.
Patients report irritation to the tongue along with an initial adjustment to speaking. Lingual braces may not be for patients in need of severe orthodontic treatment.
So there are many options to choose from and we are here to help you make that choice. Schedule a consultation in our office to find out the best orthodontic solution for you.
